Avbelj, Pollara and Hakalehto are ready to take on the roads of the Parma Apennines, with redemption, confirmation and a fresh IRC challenge all on the agenda.
MS Munaretto is ready to return to the asphalt stages of the International Rally Cup for the 32nd Rally Internazionale del Taro, scheduled for 30 and 31 May on the roads of the province of Parma. The second round of the series will see crews tackle a total route of 406.94 kilometres, including 110.14 timed kilometres, split across eight special stages, with Bedonia once again confirmed as the logistical heart of the event.
Three high profile crews will fly the flag for the Schio based team, taking on a rally that has always been highly selective, combining rhythm, precision and management on roads where reading the surface correctly can make the difference from the very first kilometres.
Carrying number 3 on the doors, Boštjan Avbelj will be back behind the wheel of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, co-driven by Andrejka Damijan. For the Slovenian driver, the Parma event represents the chance to put behind him the disappointment of his retirement at the Targa Florio, where an accident brought an early end to a rally in which he had shown a solid and convincing pace. Rally del Taro will therefore offer a new opportunity to regain continuity and return to the positions that matter.
The spotlight will also be on the number 4 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Marco Pollara, with Giuseppe Princiotto alongside him. The Sicilian driver comes into the Parma challenge aiming to build on the third place overall secured at Rallye Elba, a result that confirmed both his competitiveness and consistency in a high level field. For Pollara and Princiotto, Rally del Taro will be an important step in consolidating the strong performance shown in the opening IRC round.
In Rally4, attention turns to the number 50 Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF entrusted to Aatu Hakalehto, co-driven by Niklas Heino. The Finnish crew will line up at the start with a clear desire to get their campaign firmly back on track after the setback suffered last weekend at the Bauhaus Royal Rally of Scandinavia, where the frustration of seeing a podium slip away has now become a strong sporting motivation. On the Taro stages, Hakalehto and Heino will have the chance to turn that disappointment into competitive energy.
The rally will get underway on Saturday 30 May from Bedonia, following the Albareto shakedown, with the first two runs over the “Tornolo” stage. Sunday 31 May will host the main part of the contest, with the “Folta” and “Montevacà” stages repeated several times before the final finish, once again in Bedonia.
For MS Munaretto, the Rally Internazionale del Taro is set to be an event of real significance: three crews, three different sporting stories and one shared objective, to make their mark again on one of the most demanding and technical rallies on the IRC calendar.
